During spring and summer, mosquitoes and insects are abundant, and many people experience insects flying into their eyes while biking or engaging in outdoor activities. Most people simply rub their eyes and shrug it off, but this seemingly harmless action can have serious consequences. Mr. Hu from Fujian recently had a mosquito fly into his eye while riding an electric bike. He only did some simple self-treatment and didn’t seek medical attention, but his vision deteriorated rapidly in a short time. He was eventually diagnosed with fungal corneal ulcer, and narrowly avoided permanent blindness.
Mr. Hu said that after the mosquito entered his left eye, he just rubbed it a few times. Once the foreign body sensation disappeared, he didn’t pay further attention. Unexpectedly, his left eye soon began to experience blurred vision, which kept getting worse, so he rushed to the hospital for examination. The results showed that his right eye had a visual acuity of 0.6, but his left eye was only 0.04, meaning he had effectively lost vision in that eye.
The doctor pointed out that fungal keratitis is even more challenging than ordinary bacterial infections. Fungi can grow deep into the cornea like “roots of a tree,” making standard antibiotics ineffective. Antifungal medications also have poor penetration, so if treatment is delayed, it may lead to corneal perforation or even destruction of the eyeball.
Zeng Qingyan, Director of Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital (Hankou Campus), explained, “After insects enter the eye, they may carry sharp claws that can damage the corneal epithelial barrier, and the fungi they carry can seize the opportunity to invade the cornea, causing infection or even ulcers.”
After Mr. Hu was admitted to the hospital, the medical team immediately came up with a treatment plan. After about a week of standard treatment, his symptoms gradually eased. However, the doctor emphasized that early symptoms of fungal infection are subtle and treatment is difficult—if not handled correctly, the condition can quickly spiral out of control.
Doctors also remind everyone to strengthen eye protection during spring and summer outdoor activities, such as wearing protective goggles to reduce risk. If insects enter the eye, do not rub it with your hands. Instead, immediately rinse with clean water or saline solution. Zeng Qingyan emphasizes, “If you still feel discomfort after handling it, or experience redness or declining vision, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible for an examination.”